Switzerland Rejects Stricter Neutrality Rules Limiting NATO Cooperation
Swiss voters rejected a proposal to tighten neutrality rules, leaving the government with greater flexibility on sanctions and security cooperation, including with NATO.
Swiss voters have rejected a proposal to impose stricter neutrality rules, with 70.15% voting against the initiative in the September 27 referendum, according to Switzerland’s Federal Statistical Office. All 26 cantons also rejected the proposal.
The initiative sought to define Switzerland’s neutrality more strictly in the Constitution. It proposed that the country should not join or cooperate with military or defence alliances unless Switzerland was attacked or an attack was being prepared. It also sought to prevent Switzerland from imposing sanctions on countries involved in conflicts unless those sanctions were authorised by the United Nations.
The vote means Switzerland retains its existing framework, under which the government can cooperate with other countries on security matters and adopt sanctions while maintaining its neutral status. Switzerland has, for example, adopted many EU sanctions against Russia following its invasion of Ukraine.
Swiss Foreign Minister Ignazio Cassis said the result was not a rejection of neutrality, but a decision about how the policy should be applied.
The initiative had been backed by the Swiss People’s Party, which argued that recent government decisions had weakened the country’s traditional neutrality. The referendum instead leaves the government with more flexibility in handling sanctions and international security cooperation.
